At the 2025 NAMM Show, the MIDI Association officially introduced Network MIDI 2.0 (UDP), a new standard that defines how to connect MIDI devices (MIDI 1.0 and MIDI 2.0 protocol) via Ethernet and wireless LAN.
The initial version was ratified by the MIDI Association and AMEI in November 2024.
Features:
- Long distance
- Ethernet cables can transmit data up to 100 meters (330ft) without any signal loss or degradation.
- Wireless can reach up to 45m (150ft) with direct line of sight (actual distance depends on a number of factors)
- Low latency
- Typical latency on Ethernet is under 1ms. Wireless LAN latency depends on connection quality and technology, but typically under 5ms.
- High bandwidth
- 100MBit/s or more on Ethernet, 1MBit/s or more on wireless LAN
- One cable/wireless link is enough for many logical connections
- Ground isolation
- On Ethernet, connections are electrically isolated, reducing the chances of electrical grounding noise issues.
- Auto-Discovery
- Can select devices to connect by name
- Off-the-shelf parts and infrastructure
- Standard cables (Cat5, Cat6, etc.), routers, switches, and components are readily available and cost effective
- Many transports for audio already use Ethernet or IP-based protocols. Some of those are open standards (i.e. AES67) and some are proprietary. Being able to run MIDI 2.0 as a control protocol over the same links that run audio can greatly expand the use of MIDI 2.0.
- Wireless MIDI 2.0 using Wireless LAN
- The same protocol can be used on wired connections via Ethernet, and wireless connections on wireless LAN, also in mixed environments.
- Logical connection setup (Session Management)
- The user has full control over which device is able to send/receive MIDI with which other device (or application)
- Connections can be changed without having to move physical cables.
- Many MIDI streams (sessions) can be configured on the same cable
- Simple security mechanisms available in Network MIDI 2.0 help prevent unauthorized access
- Peer to peer connection is possible without the need to route data through a computer.
- Software implementations do not require OS support
Here’s an overview from Pete Brown (Microsoft engineer & MIDI Association Exec Board Chair), via Sonic State:
Details on Network MIDI 2.0 are available at the Association site.
Wake me up when youve figured out how to put this in all the new keyboards and devices and cables and so on
when its just something for network connections only… Thats just not practical enough for me yet
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
MIDI over Ethernet (and audio over Ethernet) is great for live performances where you have to route signals over long distances and don’t want to deal with bundles of heavy cables. Both have been in use for many years, so it’s nice to see a standard moving network MIDI connections into controllers and synths.
wake me when the hooks for geographically distributed disaster recovery failover are complete.